New digs for Hempstead County as Hope bank will become courthouse

[TexasTowelie]

Farmers Bank & Trust finalizes an agreement Wednesday with the Hempstead County Quorum Court to sell its main bank building in Hope, Ark., for $1.5 million. The bank building will be converted into a courthouse, Hempstead County Judge Haskell Morse said.
Photo by Jim Williamson /Texarkana Gazette.

HOPE -- Farmers Bank & Trust finalized an agreement with the Hempstead County Quorum Court on Wednesday to sell its main bank building in Hope, Ark., for $1.5 million.

The building is at 200 E. Third St. in the downtown area of Hope. The market value of the building makes the transaction equivalent to a $3 million donation from Farmers Bank & Trust to Hempstead County to use as a courthouse.

"We are grounded in our presence within Hope and Hempstead County. However, the current bank building was larger than needed and the county was exploring options for a new courthouse. We hope that our building transfer will serve as a win-win situation for the staff and residents of Hempstead County and our company, said Bob Burns, FB&T chairman of the board and a Hope native.

"We're excited with the plans, and the building looks like a courthouse," said Bruce Maloch, vice chairman and general counsel for Farmers Bank & Trust.

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texarkana/story/2017/dec/21/hope-bank-will-become-courthouse/705338/